The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A SENIOR Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) manager rejected a defence attorney’s assertion that the corporation never followed its policy requiring ministerial approval for contracts over $250,000.

WSC general manager Robert Deal said this under cross examination by Damian Gomez, KC, as testimony continued in Long Island MP Adrian Gibson and others’ criminal trial.

Previous witnesses had testified that contracts exceeding $250,000 required ministerial approval.

Mr Gomez presented various documents — including payment vouchers, a change order and letters of agreement — relating to contracts for WSC projects on Long Island and Crooked Island.

As Mr Gomez probed Deal on contract approvals, Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier objected multiple times, challenging the relevance of certain documents.

Still, Mr Gomez persisted and presented board minutes and questioned Mr Deal on a request made to the WSC board for approval of million-dollar projects on these islands.

Mr Deal confirmed management sought board approval and that contracts were subsequently awarded and payments made.

“I put it to you that there was no ministerial approval for these contracts,” Mr Gomez challenged.

Mr Deal responded that while a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) project had overall Cabinet approval, he could not confirm whether other projects had ministerial sign-off.

Mr Gomez then pressed him on whether a policy requiring ministerial approval for contracts over $250,000 ever truly existed.

Mr Deal responded that the policy was in written documentation, adding: “It must’ve existed.”

“I’m putting it to you that it was never followed,” the defence attorney countered.

 But, the witness rejected that claim, asserting the policy was being enforced.

Mr Gomez then referred a 2019 communication in which the witness allegedly sought guidance from then WSC executive chairman Mr Gibson on project approvals.

Mr Deal said he would need to review the document and after doing so, he confirmed its contents.

The defence attorney then questioned Mr Deal about a 2016 board meeting, citing minutes indicating that the board considered contracting insurance services and had received a commitment letter for $438,000.

The prosecution objected again, arguing relevance, but the defence pressed on, highlighting what they viewed as procedural inconsistencies.

“It’s the Crown’s point that anything over $250,000 ought have gone to the minister,” defence attorney Ian Cargill argued. “It is the defence’s intention that that is not correct and so, therefore, my learned senior is attempting to show on numerous about of times, the same thing that counsel is indicating is illegal or was illegal was done and is still being done.”

Mr Gomez then cited minutes from the 2016 board meeting that showed the board had approved a three-year contract with an insurance company at an annual cost of over $400,000.

Mr Gomez pointed out that the minutes made no mention of ministerial approval for the contract.

Mr Deal agreed, but said ministerial approval would be obtained afterward.

“The board would have to approve it first,” the witness added.

Mr Gibson and several co-defendants face multiple charges related to contracts awarded under his tenure at the corporation.

The defence team includes Mr Gomez, KC, Geoffrey Farquharson, Murrio Ducille, KC, Mr Cargill, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, and Raphael Moxey.

Meanwhile, the Crown’s legal team comprises Ms Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean, and Rashied Edgecombe.

The case continues before Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson.